Steel symbolises strength, invincibility and resilience. To have “nerves of steel” is a common expression for coping with something unpleasant or performing a seemingly impossible task. The symbolism is striking, as steel is hard and durable.

Stainless steel is an alloy that consists largely of iron. The most important alloy is carbon, but silicon, chromium and manganese are also common. The properties and characteristics of steel are determined by the alloy content. Carbon steel, which is magnetic, is considered a “simpler” steel and is often used for car bodies.

Stainless steel has many good sides. One of these is that it can be hardened in a variety of ways in which the alloy content affects the properties of the steel. And a larger proportion of carbon in the alloy makes the steel strong and hard. Something you probably already know is that the metal can be formed in both cold and hot conditions.

Strength increases when steel is alloyed with other elements, such as manganese. Tempering stainless steel is often done to increase the hardness and durability of the surface layer.

Steel is divided into different grades. For example, commercial steel (usually carbon steel) is used to produce reinforcing bars, and steel sheeting is used in shipbuilding and the automotive industry.

Another example is special high-grade steel. This is used for more demanding applications, such as ball bearings and stainless-steel sheeting. Other examples of the main groups include cast steel, construction-grade steel and tool-grade steel.